5 comments about Behind the Oval Office: Getting Reelected Against All Odds.

1. The undisputed master of polling, political stratagem, geopolitical sagacity, and, er... prostitutes writes an amazingly candid look into the Clinton White House worth reading years later. Morris chronicles his triangulation strategy that unfortunately led to Clinton's improbable 2nd term. Morris operated largely in secret as "Charlie" over the phone and later in and out of the East Wing while Clinton's staff worked separately in the West Wing.

   Morris tells how Clinton instructs Morris to continue with the subterfuge to avoid the largely ineffective and overly quarrelsome Leon Panetta and Harold Ickes. Without Morris and his insight, Clinton no doubt would not have signed the Republican-sponsored Welfare Reform Act and would have lost in 1996. Morris, who is a foot shorter than Clinton, was tackled by Clinton while in Arkansas, only later to be consoled by Hillary as she told him that Bill only does that to people he loves. With friends like that...




2. Clinton's use of television advertising in his 1996 reelection bid was unprecedented in American history. Political consultant Dick Morris was highly influential in managing this campaign, and retracing his collaboration with the Clintons back to the Arkansas gubernatorial campaigns, he peeks inside Clinton and his White House.
   
   Morris was also the one who gave the American political world 'triangulation'. If (as he insists too many times) triangulation is not really shaping of policy by polling but merely the shaping of presentation by polling, it would still be terribly disingenuous toward the voter. But I think even he realizes that cherry-picking other people's policies in order to win elections is not leadership.
   
   In fact, a lack of leadership is indicative of the Clinton White House itself. According to Morris, Clinton suffers from a chronic inability to fire under- or misperforming members of his staff (inadvertently giving another clue as to who really was responsible for firing the travel office staff). He creates chaos and infighting, then drifts around waiting for someone to move in his direction whom he then supports. Morris describes a permanent near state of war between White House chief of staff Leon Panetta and deputies Harold Ickes and Erskine Bowles. Such is the manner that Clinton exerts control.
   
   But then he isn't much of a team player-- he even keeps Morris out of sight from his staff because he wanted him to himself. Later, paranoia erupts when Clinton accuses Morris of hogging Al Gore, and fearing abandonment by his boss, Gore accuses Clinton of the same.
   
   Clinton spent an astounding $85 million in his reelection campaign. In the previous presidential election, both candidates spent less than half that amount. Obviously this war chest drained an enormous amount of time and energy from Clinton's other job as president. Quoting Clinton: "I can't think. I can't act. I can't do anything but go to fund-raisers and shake hands. You want me to issue executive orders; I can't focus on a thing but the next fund-raiser. Hillary can't, Al can't-- we're all getting sick and crazy because of it."
   
   Interestingly, Clinton doesn't even watch television news-- or read newspapers, with the exception of the New York Times and Washington Post op-ed pages.
   
   Morris describes the reason for not supporting a cut in the capital gains tax. Their own experts had agreed with President Ronald Reagan's rationale that such a cut not only would not cost anything but would even raise revenue, but they still opposed it because it would make them look "too Republican." So they screwed American workers for cosmetics' sake. He describes Clinton's strategy to pass a welfare reform bill to help his election, but then force changes in it after being locked into the White House. Morris has many good words for Trent Lott, but being a good Senator couldn't save him from being lambasted over an off-hand remark at Strom Thurmond's centenary.
   
   Not much is mentioned about foreign affairs, but what is doesn't speak well for Clinton's grasp of it. On the victory of Prime Minister Netanyahu in the 1996 Israeli elections, Clinton flatly concludes that the "Israelis are not ready for peace," forgetting that following countless terror attacks on its citizens after the disastrous Clinton-sponsored Israeli/Palestinian peace agreements, Israelis voted Netanyahu in office precisely because he was the only one who could credibly bring peace.
   
   Sooner or later everyone strays into Hillary's dark side, and Morris commits the sin of recounting how she wanted a swimming pool in their taxpayer-funded Arkansas governor's mansion. It is fairly amusing to read the fawning and sycophantic groveling he had to endure to be restored in her favor.
   
   Behind the White House is a fairly interesting read, though it suffers from sloppy editing. Are "honesty, honor, reliability" really adjectives in the Democratic lexicon? It has its share of political correctness: why does 'Arab terrorists' need quotes? Truman 'lost' China, but Clinton didn't want to lose Russia.
   
   Dick Morris seems a generally honorable professional who is good at what he does, though I'm left to wonder whether this is good for the electorate or the country. In order to raise the astronomical amounts of cash needed for the marketing of what Morris calls the "first fully advertised presidency in US history," Clinton by his own admission was incapacitated from his duties. As we now know, the methods used to raise the cash were illegal, sometimes damaging to our national security, and always reprehensible.



3. Part campaign chronicle, part autobiography, part political strategy primer, Behind the Oval Office is Morris's look at the period from about November 1994 through August 1996 when he worked as a consultant for Bill Clinton. Morris includes some background information, such as his earlier history with the Clintons and his relationship with Trent Lott, but the primary focus is how Clinton won the presidency after the 1994 midterm elections, to many observers, turned him into an apparent lame duck.
   
   Morris takes great pains to point out that he is (or at least was) an equal opportunity consultant, advising both Republicans and Democrats. Indeed, when he got his first call from Clinton in 1994, he was working on a handful of Republican campaigns, including Tom Ridge's race for governor in Pennsylvania. Previously, he had worked for Trent Lott, whom Morris deeply respects, and, surprisingly enough, for Jesse Helms, a job which, not too surprisingly, ended with Morris's being fired. There's something a shade Machiavellian about this, about caring for victory above all else. But Morris also goes to great lengths to explain his "craft." It is not simply spin or slander or attack or government-by-polls; rather, it is about issues and substance. Morris insists that he merely examines a candidates repertoire of positions and, based on polls, picks the ones to emphasize.
   
   It is an interesting book by an obviously brilliant man. Clinton's reversal of fortunes between 1994 and 1996 is nothing short of stunning, and much of it was Dick Morris's doing. That is, until he encountered his own scandal during the 1996 convention. (Of course, Dick Morris's strategies would continue to reap benefits after he left.) If there is a negative of this book, it is Morris's constant apologies for his trysts with the prostitute. It's a refreshing stand--to admit his wrongdoing, apologize for it, and recognize that he hurt others more than he hurt himself. But it was such a constant refrain in the book as to detract from its overall impact. Still, the book is insightful not only into the 1996 campaign but also into campaign strategy in general. It is a fascinating read.



4. Bill Clinton hired Dick Morris as a consultant for his 1996 reelection campaign. His role as an advisor to the president was kept a secret for several months, and eventually ended in a tabloid-driven scandal that cost Dick his job. Behind the Oval Office provides an account of this time from Dick's perspective.

   The account is told in a surprisingly linear and story-like fashion. It makes for a captivating literary experience (which is a real accomplishment considering that this is a political book). It also serves as an outlet for Dick to apologize for, and make peace with, the scandal that cost him his job (and almost his marriage).

   I found the book to be quite fair in describing the principals of the Clinton administration and Republican leadership in Congress (Dick Morris had also consulted for many Republicans over the years and briefly served as an information conduit between Bill Clinton and Trent Lott).

   The bottom line is this: If you're looking for some sort of a hatchet-job on the Clinton administration, look elsewhere. If you're looking for starting revelations and juicy details, try the tabloids. However, if you want to know more about one of the most unique relationships a president has ever shared with an advisor, this is the book for you.




5. I was expecting a "Bill Clinton is a genius" book and prepared to dislike it. I've never cared for Clinton because the guy is so obviously out for himself - and at the same time decrying people for that very trait. As a President, Clinton confused personal victories with leadership (need I say impeachment?).
   
   But regarding the actual race, I want to say that this book reads better than almost all of those campaign journal books by Teddy White and Jack Germond/Jules Witcover - and especially those of Elizabeth Drew. Morris makes clear his admiration of Clinton while leaving the reader with the conclusion that Clinton had a split personality - Morris calls one the policy wonk and the other the Eagle Scout.
   
   Morris is NOT a conservative. Anyone who gets on his case about that is seriously misguided. Yes, he was (perhaps is) a Republican, but he covered that in detail, too. After all, how many people voted for BOTH George McGovern AND Ronald Reagan?
   
   The book left me captivated as Morris clearly understands the ideological differences between the two parties. I think Morris is on somewhat less stable ground that the GOP would never nominate a Colin Powell, but I agree with virtually all of his other points.
   
   Sadly, Morris hubris sunk him. Readers will remember that during the 1996 campaign, Morris got caught with a hooker and thrown out the door. Given Clinton's peccadilloes, I would think this behavior would get Morris nominated VP. But give Morris credit - he blamed himself and ONLY himself for that one.
   
   The one bad thing out of the book is that Morris did the entire country a disservice by getting Clinton re-elected. While Morris may have felt that it was the right thing to do at the time, history shows Clinton to be just the way Morris saw him in his book - weak and namby-pamby and without a central core of beliefs of what he actually wanted to do as President. This is unfortunate given how history unfolded: if Clinton had had some guidance and actually run on issues of what he was going to do (that was tough since he did almost nothing he promised in 1992), he would have had some political cover when the Lewinsky scandal broke.
   
   The book is must-read for political junkies or for somebody who wants to know Bill Clinton from the inside.

3 comments about The Uncommon Wisdom of JFK: A Portrait in His Own Words.

1. You forget all the things JFK did and said until you read this thing. Wow, it really reminds you. But the best part is the DVD that comes with it which is only probably forty minutes, but it has all this film (color and black and white) of Kennedy. I had always wanted to see him saying "Ich bin ein Berliner!"

   In the end, the film of him playing with his son just tears your heart out. The DVD is worth it alone.




2. Everything about this book is quality from the design, to the paper to the elegant font. It captures the essence of JFK because it's not someone else's memoir or perceptions. This is all JFk in his own words. One quote is particularly striking. Before taking office JFK quotes Lincoln on the subject of fate and purpose as president.
   
   Also, the book includes a DVD filled with remakable and touching images.



3. 
   I have read a pile of books and watched a ton of TV about JFK;and I have to put this one right up there with the best of them.It was about 1958 when I first became aware of him.By 1960,I had finished University,and had been working for about a year.What really amazed me was that I was a new engineer of 23, just starting my career and here was this fellow who had spent 4 years in WWII,a Navy Lieutenant Hero from the Pacific,already travelled the world,spent 14 years as a Congressman and Senator;and now at the ripe old age of 43, elected President of the USA,the most powerful in the world with the job of dealing with the Communist threat of world domination...and he's only 18 years older than me.
   Although I had been following politics since High School days;my lifelong interest really took off around 1960;and what an interest and roller coaster ride we were in for in the next 4 years,and to a large degree,ever since.
   This book captures the JFK I knew,and most of all in his own words.There,s hardly a thing in this book that I don't remember watch happen on TV.I have to agree with the other reviewers that the DVD is fantastic.There is the old idea that a book is better than a movie.Our teachers tried to drill that into us,but they had little success in winning me over."Gone With the Wind","Casablanca",Westerns,War movies;you name it,the movies won me over every time.The same holds here.It is one thing to read the words as JFK spoke them;but listening to him and watching him again brings back the memories,exactly as I remember them.Even these black and white newsreels enhance the power of his words;and it is almost a forgotten thing that there was TV without color.If you tell a kid today that you watched the first man land on the moon,I think it was 1969, on a black and white TV;he'll probably say "Why?".When you say," there was hardly any color TV then";the reply is something like,"Oh?"
   JFK captured the audience every time he came in contact with a camera,crowd or audience.In the DVD,there are a couple of shots where he was debating Nixon,who doesn't say a word.That is the way I remember JFK,when he said something,there wasn't much else to say.Everyone loved his press conferences,friend and foe alike;and probably nobody enjoyed them more than himself.I can't think of anyone else in public life that can hold a candle to his improptu wit and humor...and he could do it without being hurtful.I can only imagine what the 'banter' must have been like behind closed doors or with friends on a social basis.Think about times with Sinatra for instance;we'll never know.But oh,the stories that must be told by those who 'knew' him.
   I can't recommend this book highly enough to those who lived through the Kennedy years.To those who didn't,this book will give you an idea of what the JFK wisdom and wit was all about.
   I think that Kennedy hit the nail on the head about what it means to be President with these words:
   "Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer."
   Herein lies the reason that ,no matter what party the President comes from,the President has to be the President of all the people,and can expect a lot of objection from the other side.It may be too bad but it goes with the territory and the reason Presidents seldom let it bother them.

No comments about America Ascendant: From Theodore Roosevelt to FDR in the Century of American Power, 1901-1945.

1 comments about ADOLF HITLER: The Final Analysis.

1. This book, written by a professional psychologist, gives an interesting insight into Hitler's mind. However, it lacks a sociological dimension and sometimes fails to delve beneath the obvious when more subtle psychological factors were involved. The best, most up-to-date and most authoritative account of Hitler in his psychological and sociological setting with all his complexity of character and all the complex factors affecting German society at the time is given in 'Adolf Hitler: A Portrait,' published by Spellmount, June 2006, by Michael FitzGerald. This is his latest publication on the Nazis.

No comments about Theodore Roosevelt and World Order: Police Power in International Relations.

1 comments about Jefferson the President, First Term, 1801-1805 (Jefferson & His Time (University of Virginia Press)).

1. This book is the fourth volume in Dumas Malone's six volume biography called "Jefferson and His Time" covering the period in Jefferson's first term as President (1801-1805)
   
   This volume is, without question, the best yet in the series and the best book of presidential scholarship that I have ever read. Mr. Malone maintains the topic based, in depth analysis, that he developed in the previous two volumes but with a marked improvement in the quality of his prose and presentation that makes this volume every bit as an enjoyable read as the best narrative biographies. The topic based chapters neatly organize related information and analysis, but are written in such a way to nicely flow from one chapter to the next and maintain an overall coherence with a minimum of redundancy. Of particular brilliance are the chapters on the case of Marbury vs. Madison, and the chapters related to the Louisiana purchase.
   
   The only point of criticism of this volume is its treatment of Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemings. We, of course, have the benefit of modern DNA testing which confirms the assertion that it is highly likely, though not entirely conclusive, that Mr. Jefferson fathered most, if not all, of the children borne to Sally Hemings. At the time of the writing of this volume, Mr. Malone did not have benefit of the evidence we have today, but seems to go out of his way, much more than is warranted, in trying to convince the reader that the claims were almost certainly false. In fact, the reader is left with the sense that, if the author believed the claims were indeed true, his personal opinion of Jefferson would have been greatly damaged.
   
   This criticism aside, this volume carries my highest recommendation. My only hope is that the final two volumes maintain the excellence achieved in this volume.

5 comments about Thomas Jefferson: Draftsman of a Nation.

1. A magnificent book for an incredible man. Told in story book fashion, as all history should be, Bober's writing style is a mesmerizing tribute to the subject.It is a shame that a man of Jefferson's character and vision would probably be unelectable in today's visionless sea of pluralism and status quo where the details of the day outshine the necessities of tomorrow.



2. Probably one of the best books I've ever read- it is very informative, but I was able to read it like I would a novel- a rare trait in nonfiction literature. It was written in a way that even one who is not a history buff can enjoy it. It shows that Jefferson was quite ahead of his time, but he was not superhuman as some sources lead us to believe.



3. I was really intreged by this book because it was understandable, interesting, and filled with facts about this amazing man that I've never read or heard about before.



4. Thomas Jefferson is to me: one of the most admirable people in history.This book has an amazing fictional aproach but yet it is still factual and educational and you can still be one of the biggest Jefferson buffs out there and not have to do years of studying.This book is to me the most animated biography that mosturizes dry facts to fertile entertainment.



5. As a life long Jefferson fan, I enjoyed this book immensely, but am concerned that Bober does not offer a critical analysis of her subject. She says that one of her goals in writing this book is to make Jefferson appear more human. While she goes into great detail about Jefferson's family values and other interests aside from politics, she omits any mention of his mortal flaws which are exactly what make him human. Any reader can tell that Bober reveres Jefferson like a Revolutionary God (and indeed he was one), but she is unable to maintain any degree of impartiality as a biographer.
   
   For instance, Bober enthusiastically discusses the various ways Jefferson tried to bring an end to the peculiar institution of slavery through his writings, but she never questions why if this was so important to him, he failed to take advantage of his executive power as president to ensure that the Louisiana territory he purchased in 1803 remained slave free? Why didn't he fight harder to retain the clause prohibiting slavery in his original draft of the Declaration of Independence? The Jefferson of Bober's imagination is not capable of such double standards or inconsistencies in character.
   
   Bober only briefly mentions that while Jefferson professed to be against slavery, he owned several hundred slaves at Monticello and his other plantations. Why was his rhetoric inconsistent with his actions? Bober conveniently ignores the fact that Monticello was built entirely by slaves. (This I know because I have a degree in history, but a less informed reader would be misled). Jefferson may have thought that ending slavery was a good idea, but he did not pursue this cause with the same passion with which he fought for the freedom of white Americans from the British.
   
   Bober dismisses the notion that Jefferson had an affair with his slave Sally Hemings and instead suggests that the president's nephew was the father of Sally's children, yet Bober's evidence to support her argument is scant. In fact, she spends as little time as possible on this topic, preferring to discuss Jefferson's contributions to his country. While this approach is refreshing when compared to the massive number of volumes out there on "Jefferson's scandals," Bober has neglected an important part of Jeffersonian history. Recent DNA testing has proven that Sally Heming's children were fathered by a Jefferson male which could be Thomas or possibly someone else.
   
   All this said, Bober does an excellent job of bringing Thomas Jefferson to life and articulating his accomplishments in a meaningful way. It's a shame that her work is decidedly unbalanced and therefore irresponsible from an historical point of view.

1 comments about George Washington's Legacy of Leadership.

1. The Legacy of Leadership is NOT just another biography about George Washington. After attending a lecture and book signing given by the author it is obvious that this book is a labor of love reflecting years of research. As stated in the preface "The purpose of this book is to bring George Washington back into the life of all Americans." Ward Burian has certainly accomplished that and more. This book is very readable, keeps your interest and fills in all the details you have long forgotten or never knew. I especially enjoyed the information provided on all the key players of the American Revolution and how they related to washington and to each other. Ward has done a great job of tying all the pieces together. A separate chapter on "The Genealogy of George Washinton" was most enlightening as I had never seen this information presented before. The chapter "Washington's Relevancy Today" confirms that this is not just a history book but that some ideas and principles are still valid for us in the 21st century. I most highly recommend this book for everyone. Even if you think you know a lot about Washington, be assured there is much more to the story then you ever imagined.

No comments about Adolf Hitler - Nazi Fuhrer (Biography).

1 comments about The Presidency of Andrew Jackson (American Presidency Series).

1. The presidency of Andrew Jackson marks a significant change in American presidential politics. With the exception of John Quincy Adams, and a weak one at that, all previous presidents had been members of the unofficial American aristocracy that existed at the time of independence. Traditionally, they followed the principle of the office seeking the man and campaigning for the position was generally not done. There was little in the way of populist movements and political parties in the modern sense did not exist. That changed with the rise of Jackson to the presidency and expanded during his two terms in office.
   Jackson was the first president who was popularly elected to office, and the prelude to the election was the first true campaign for the position. He was also the first person from the west to be elected to the presidency and a military hero many times over. His reputation as a general places him nearly on a par with George Washington.
   Being the first "outsider" president, his election created a great deal of anxiety among the established powers in the east. Cole quite properly begins with a thorough discussion of this situation, as it created a good deal of tension that lasted for several years. There was also an enormous amount of economic expansion going on in the country, which began to exacerbate the regional tensions developing between the northern and southern regions of the country. A great deal of the book is spent examining these regional tendencies and with the perspective of hindsight, we can clearly see the gathering storm that finally led to war. This area is very well done, as the author properly describes all of the growing tensions, not just the problem of slavery.
   Cole also does an excellent job describing the personality of Andrew Jackson, sometimes compromising and other times very much "Old Hickory", as he refused to bend. His threat to use federal troops in the south was a genuine one, sparking a lot of animosity, yet accomplishing what he wanted to do. He surprised everyone with his reluctance to become involved in the Texan attempt to gain independence from Mexico. Most expected the "Old Hero" to be much more aggressive in expanding the nations' borders. In the book, we also see the rise of Martin Van Buren, called the little magician for his political ability. He truly was the first modern political power broker, the type of person necessary for effective presidential leadership.
   With the economic and physical expansion of the country beginning to proceed at an incredible pace, the
   Jackson years were those where the nation began taking on the characteristics of a modern nation. Cole does an excellent job of describing this transition, as well as the man who was at the helm when it was taking place. Andrew Jackson was one of the most complex men to hold the office, as well as one of the roughest. From the book, you learn about these different aspects of his personality as well as how the country was affected by them.